Supporting Peers to Advocate for Equal Rights and a Recovery-Based
Mental Health System
Contact Legislators
Call! Write! Email! Petition! Meet!
Find your NH Senator, NH Representative, US Senator and/or US Representative.
Call!
It is the most effective way to contact a legislator when advocating on a specific issue or bill. It is best to prepare beforehand:
"Hello, Representative/Senator ___. My name is ___ and I live in your district in ___. I am calling to ask you to support/oppose bill number/issue. (Share brief, personalized advocacy message. Brief points are helpful). Thank you for your time and consideration on this bill/issue."
Be aware of what time you are calling.
Keep your conversation brief and respectful. If you would like to have a longer conversation, set up a future date and time.
If they don't answer, leave a brief message with your name, the city/town in which you live and your phone number.
Senators may have a staff person who answers their phone.
Representatives' phone numbers are their personal numbers. If a family member answers, ask to leave your phone number with him/her.
Source: New Futures, 100 North Main Street, Suite 400, Concord, NH 03301
Write: Personal Stories Have Power!
Personal stories are effective advocacy tools. They help people understand the real-life impacts that policy will have. They motivate people to take action and work toward change.
Introduce yourself and relative information about yourself.
Describe a challenge faced.
Illustrate a solution or proposed solution to the challenge: the change you want to see made.
What will be the impact of the solution?
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Stories Humanize Policy
Tell a solutions-focused story. Introduce yourself in a way that establishes relevance or credibility. Discuss the issue or challenge then focus on the desired change or solution. Illustrate what the impact of the solution will be. The impact is a motivator and serves as a vision or goal to work toward.
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Personalized Advocacy Message
An effective message appeals to both the head and the heart. It concludes with a specific ask. Your personal story appeals to the heart. Appeal to the head by adding factual information. Conclude with a specific ask: what do you want people to do?
Personal story
Factual information
Specific ask
Source: New Futures, 100 North Main Street, Suite 400, Concord, NH 03301​
Email: Personal Stories Have Power
Emails are best used to follow up a phone call with additional information.
If you are using email to initially contact a legislator, be sure to put "Constituent of (Your Town/City) (Bill Number) (Issue)" in the subject line.
Legislators get many emails and this is one way to increase the likelihood yours will be seen.
Include your contact information in the signature of the email.
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Personal stories are effective advocacy tools. They help people understand the real-life impacts that policy will have. They motivate people to take action and work toward change.
Introduce yourself and relative information about yourself.
Describe a challenge faced.
Illustrate a solution or proposed solution to the challenge: the change you want to see made.
What will be the impact of the solution?
Stories Humanize Policy
Tell a solutions-focused story. Introduce yourself in a way that establishes relevance or credibility. Discuss the issue or challenge then focus on the desired change or solution. Illustrate what the impact of the solution will be. The impact is a motivator and serves as a vision or goal to work toward.
​
Personalized Advocacy Message
An effective message appeals to both the head and the heart. It concludes with a specific ask. Your personal story appeals to the heart. Appeal to the head by adding factual information. Conclude with a specific ask: what do you want people to do?
Personal story
Factual information
Specific ask
Source: New Futures, 100 North Main Street, Suite 400, Concord, NH 03301
Petition!
A petition is a request for a legislator to do something. It is signed by numerous people. A petition may be written or transmitted via the Internet.
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Stay tuned for upcoming petition campaigns.
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Source: Wikipedia
Meet!
If you decide to meet with a legislator, be careful.